2005 Ford Escape Hybrid: sudden loss of power

Filed Jun 4, 2018 · Fuel system · 195,000 miles · FL

The car has twice lost power while I was driving it. The red warning light comes on the car loses power but the power steering and brakes remain functional. The car was on recall for this exact thing and I took the car in. The dealer tells me I have the brushless coolant pump so it's not due to the defective motor electronics coolant pump and he's not replacing it. But it's still doing it and nothing else is wrong with the car. This is dangerous because the second time it happened I was on the interstate going 70 miles an hour.

Filed May 2, 2017 · Brakes · 137,000 miles · AK

While driving down the road, I hear an alarm for "service brake system", and lose all power to my brakes. Pedal is depressed to the floor with minimal ability to stop.

Filed Aug 11, 2016 · Engine · 150,000 miles · CA

Its driving ok and then it starts losing power to 20 MPH and it wont speed more from there until its turn off for hours then im driving again and it keeps doing the same thing.

Filed Sep 11, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 140,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled. The contact also mentioned that a red triangle illuminated with a message to stop safety. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic diagnosed that the service harness needed to be installed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. According to the service bulletin, the program involved installing a service harness in the high-voltage traction battery and reprogramming the battery control module. Updated 11/06/13 updated 11/29/13

Filed Jul 3, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 92,040 miles · CA

While traveling in the high speed lane at approximately 2 am, the vehicle lost engine power without any notice as the engine shut off and the power was reduced to minimal power given by the electric motor. This caused an inability to maintain speed on a very dangerous overpass curve of the freeway and nearly caused two vehicles in the immediate proximity to collide with my vehicle as speed rapidly dropped and the vehicle said to "pull over ands shut off vehicle safely". This part of the freeway had no pull over spot nor did it have an area to really safely pull off the freeway. This is the second time the car has done this at high speed within two weeks. It has done this approximately 1-0 times at low speeds on city streets. The car is able to be driven after shutting off the power, letting it sit, and then restarting the system. There is an accompanying overheating that occurts as a result of the engine shutting off, causing the engine to be unable to be easily restarted at that point. This event gives no warning or indication it will happen and is a very dangerous situation for any driver to be thrust into. If it had been rush hour traffic, I am certain there would have been accidents and vehicle collisions as a result.

Filed Sep 22, 2010 · Engine · CA

While driving my 2005 ford escape hybrid the following occurred. I was stopped at an intersection and when I began making a left turn, an alarm sounded, a red wrench symbol, and red exclamation mark lit up on the dash. I immediately pulled to the curb and the car lost all power and steering locked up. The car restarted and I took it to ford. The service rep said the car went into a "fail safe mode" which it does to protect the hybrid battery from overheating. I was told that the alarm and symbols occur to give you about 5 minutes to safely get off the road. This did not happen. The car just lost power immediately. The ford dealership determined that a coolant pump for the hybrid battery needed to be replaced which was done. Five weeks later the same thing happened again. I was stopped at a light and when I began turning right, the alarm sounded, the red wrench and exclamation light lit up and the car lost all power immediately. Again, I was able to restart the engine so I took it back to ford to be looked at. They replaced a "suspect" cooling pump relay and road tested the car. The problem could not be duplicated. My concern is that this vehicle's "fail safe mode" makes the car completely shut down immediately. Both times I was able to move into an emergency lane, but what would have happened if I was on a freeway and the car just stopped? I am concerned that other ford escape hybrids may have the same problem and it is a real safety hazard. The second time it happened my grandchildren were in the backseat and I could have been rear ended. After having the ford dealership look at it and replace the cooling pump relay I traded in the vehicle the next day. I would like to have this documented in case there is a pattern with these cars or other hybrids. I will never purchase one again.